In the exotic nation of Katapesh, a land of fortune and wonders, heroes are those with the courage to command their destinies. Such wisdom leads a daring band to the abandoned village of Kelmarane with the hopes of reestablishing the once prosperous community. But buzzards still feast upon the secluded settlement’s corpse: a savage tribe of gnolls and their bestial allies hold the town in the name of a merciless master known only as the Carrion King. Can the PCs retake the village from its feral conquerors, or is Kelmarane but the first bastion of civilization to fall before the hordes of the mysterious warlord?

This volume of the Pathfinder Adventure Path begins the Legacy of Fire, and includes:

“Howl of the Carrion King,” an adventure for 1st-level characters, by Erik Mona

An investigation into the savage gnoll tribes of the Brazen Peaks, their brutal culture, and their merciless members, by Eric Haddock

Ruins once sacred to the god of magic have become the lair of a living curse in “The Refuge of Nethys,” a Set Piece adventure by James MacKenzie

The adventures of druid Channa Ti begin in “Dark Tapestry,” a new chronicle in the Pathfinder’s Journal, by New York Times bestselling author Elaine Cunningham

Five new monsters by Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, and F. Wesley Schneider

For characters of 1st to 5th level.

Pathfinder Adventure Path is Paizo Publishing's monthly 96-page, perfect-bound, full-color softcover book printed on high-quality paper. It contains an in-depth Adventure Path scenario, stats for about a half-dozen new monsters, and several support articles meant to give Game Masters additional material to expand their campaign. Because Pathfinder uses the Open Game License, it is 100% compatible with the 3.5 edition of the world's most popular fantasy roleplaying game.

I would like to see four new NPCs for each Adventure path, it would be really nice to see new characters with area flavor, and those 4 pregenerated characters give unique player oriented insights into the game world...

I'm looking forward to this, but I'm going to have to wait. I'm getting it from Amazon. No offense to Paizo, but Amazon's store has most Pathfinder stuff at similar prices to what they are after the subscription discount but without a shipping charge (assuming that you have enough for Super Saver shipping). Does anyone know when Amazon will be getting their copies?

I'm fairly excited to see this. I am reserving judgement till it arrives though. A new adventure path starts here with a low level oriented adventure in the desert. Although it looks like pieces of this are drawn from the bones of Al-Qadim.

. Although it looks like pieces of this are drawn from the bones of Al-Qadim.

Hmm...maybe I'll have to bust out my old Al-Qadim stuff now and adapt it to the region.

I had a few problems with Al-Qadim initially that necessitated house rules to correct. The fact it was bereft of furry races for one but there are plenty of patches for that. The other was the Corsair kit which excluded rangers, my problem with that was that a Corsair or Pirate warrior is something a ranger would excel at. I understand that it might have been because it was a sea based character but my counter to that is that if played as a druid's answer to the paladin, i.e. a sacred warrior of nature then the sea is a natural environment.

Now for this I would use Monte Cook's sibbeccai from Arcana Unearthed/Evolved as a possible race and foil for the gnolls but that's just me. I'll also be looking to see what info they might provide for playing a reformed gnoll or at least a renegade as Drizzt was a rogue drow.

I think Sibbecai would would perfectly. The market city of Katapesh attracts visitors from literally all over the multiverse, so the opportunity to play an unusual PC race is basically built into this campaign in a way that is quite different from our other offerings to date.

I just received my copy in the mail today. I love the looks of it, although it seems to be rather ... floppier than previous books. Hasn't seemed to cause any problems, just happened to be my first real observation.

I just received my copy in the mail today. I love the looks of it, although it seems to be rather ... floppier than previous books. Hasn't seemed to cause any problems, just happened to be my first real observation.

We printed it at the same place with the same specs as the rest of the APs so I'm not sure what you're seeing as a difference.

I think Sibbecai would would perfectly. The market city of Katapesh attracts visitors from literally all over the multiverse, so the opportunity to play an unusual PC race is basically built into this campaign in a way that is quite different from our other offerings to date.

Interesting. That is a big change from say, Rise of the Runelords, which tends to assume that the characters are from Sandpoint.

Legacy of Fire doesn't assume much of anything about the player characters. They begin play having just been hired by the major domo of a merchant princess, on a camel caravan to meet up with that princess. How they got there is entirely up to the PCs.

Because of the campaign's proximity to the city of Katapesh, anything is possible so far as player characters are concerned.

In general when you look at a map of Golarion, the further south you go, the weirder things get in terms of the "baseline" of the fantasy. The entire continent of Garund is pretty strange. Osirion, our analog to ancient Egypt, is about as "normal" as it gets. By the time you get all the way to the bottom of the map you're in a kingdom of undead aristocrats led by a ghost.

That said, I don't think there's much keeping you from running an all human party through the adventure path either. The adventure allows you take whatever approach you want and play pretty much whatever character you want to play.

I would like to see four new NPCs for each Adventure path, it would be really nice to see new characters with area flavor, and those 4 pregenerated characters give unique player oriented insights into the game world...

In general when you look at a map of Golarion, the further south you go, the weirder things get in terms of the "baseline" of the fantasy. The entire continent of Garund is pretty strange. Osirion, our analog to ancient Egypt, is about as "normal" as it gets. By the time you get all the way to the bottom of the map you're in a kingdom of undead aristocrats led by a ghost.

Speaking of undead aristocrats... I wonder if Castle of Odranto in Ustalav is a literary nod towards Walpole's 'Castle of Otranto', the first gothic horror novel ever written?

I think Sibbecai would would perfectly. The market city of Katapesh attracts visitors from literally all over the multiverse, so the opportunity to play an unusual PC race is basically built into this campaign in a way that is quite different from our other offerings to date.

I just received my copy in the mail today. I love the looks of it, although it seems to be rather ... floppier than previous books. Hasn't seemed to cause any problems, just happened to be my first real observation.

We printed it at the same place with the same specs as the rest of the APs so I'm not sure what you're seeing as a difference.

I noticed the same thing. It's almost like the cover and pages are thinner or flimsier than past issues. I don't think it is going to present a problem, but I did notice the difference.

Am I reading correctly that people have already starting receiving pathfinder 19? If so I wonder where the heck mine is at, I haven't even received the billing notice from Paizo yet.

It's been mentioned elsewhere to check how your shipping is selected. If it's one way, you get 'em as they come out, if it's another, it waits for once a month sort of thing. I'm guessing if you've not heard yet, it's because you're on the latter, and will be getting 19 & 20 together with other goodness.

Am I reading correctly that people have already starting receiving pathfinder 19? If so I wonder where the heck mine is at, I haven't even received the billing notice from Paizo yet.

It's been mentioned elsewhere to check how your shipping is selected. If it's one way, you get 'em as they come out, if it's another, it waits for once a month sort of thing. I'm guessing if you've not heard yet, it's because you're on the latter, and will be getting 19 & 20 together with other goodness.

Oh yeah! I forgot about that. I just started subscribing to pathfinder companion and yes indeed I did select the ship monthly option...DOOH! Thanks much.

As Wormys_Queue said upthread, him and I are in the process of co-writing a mega-review of your module for the main German site dedicated to D&D. I think the prospective word count will exceed that allowed on your board by ten times (no kidding).

While I'm still in the process of re-reading it again and again (something I always do before reviewing a module), I'd like to simply to express my WARMEST THANKS to you for this module. It's so good it actually HURTS. I mean, I've spent the past months padding up Second Darkness and making it fit into Greyhawk for an upcoming campaign I'm about to kick off in the next week, and now this comes along. It hurts, because it's so much better. I know, comparative compliments aren't the nicest ones, but a huge amount of HoCG's benefits are the more visible when viewed in terms of product development (the product in question being, of course, Pathfinder adventure path modules).

Reading HoCG felt bizarre because it's as if all one's personal (read: subjective) misgivings about previous Paizo modules had been suddenly heard. Information obtained by the players by recourse to detective work? Check. Strategical pro-activeness of the players rewarded, re-activeness penalized? Check. Module progress (linkage between parts and encounters) strongly oriented on the PCs' actions and choices, and not the NPCs'? Check.

I mean, I read your interview in Kobold Quarterly and wrote your answer to "What makes an adventure great?" in bold ink letters on the inside front of my 3.5 DMG. But I didn't expect you'd be able to deliver it this close in a Paizo product (where previous products seemed to be strongly indicative of countervailing trends). Nor did I have my hopes up after "Expedition to the Ruins of Greyhawk" which is a brilliant source book but spends 90& of its time on NPC behaviour and (brilliant) setting background with next to little room, let alone hands on suggestions for DMs, on player involvement.

As to particular highlights - especially the dungeon focused on the monastery sets a new benchmark on how to design a dungeon with a theme. It's amazing, and even better than how James Jacobs theme-peppered the optional dungeon in Burnt Offerings. If D&D was an academic subject, that dungeon would be anthologized in all definitive sourcebooks on the topic for many years to come.

So, just to say it again. This is so good it hurts. I hope you're proud of yourself.

As Wormys_Queue said upthread, him and I are in the process of co-writing a mega-review of your module for the main German site dedicated to D&D. I think the prospective word count will exceed that allowed on your board by ten times (no kidding).

Yikes! With commentary like that you make me wish I could read German!

As Wormys_Queue said upthread, him and I are in the process of co-writing a mega-review of your module for the main German site dedicated to D&D. I think the prospective word count will exceed that allowed on your board by ten times (no kidding).

Yikes! With commentary like that you make me wish I could read German!

I'm really glad you're enjoying the adventure!

--Erik

Erik, how much would you pay for an english translation? A free copy of your next adventure? ;)

Seriously, you should be writing more adventures (one per month would be nice) -- I loved the 'Whispering Cain', and I strongly suspect (based on what I've heard) that I'm going to love this one as well! :)

My physical copy arrived today, and it looks as spectacular as the adventure already read in the PDF. I'm wondering, though, if it's just me or does the cover cardstock feel a little bit more flimsy than previous issues? It seems to me it bends a little more easily then I'm used to. Did the printer change anything?

This is not meant as a negative comment, however, this is a wonderful product, and and an excellent adventure. Well done, Erik!

My physical copy arrived today, and it looks as spectacular as the adventure already read in the PDF. I'm wondering, though, if it's just me or does the cover cardstock feel a little bit more flimsy than previous issues? It seems to me it bends a little more easily then I'm used to. Did the printer change anything?

This is not meant as a negative comment, however, this is a wonderful product, and and an excellent adventure. Well done, Erik!

We didn't make any change requests... but that doesn't mean the printer didn't change something on their end. I'm curious to find out if #19 ends up being more fragile than the previous 18, for sure...

My physical copy arrived today, and it looks as spectacular as the adventure already read in the PDF. I'm wondering, though, if it's just me or does the cover cardstock feel a little bit more flimsy than previous issues? It seems to me it bends a little more easily then I'm used to. Did the printer change anything?

This is not meant as a negative comment, however, this is a wonderful product, and and an excellent adventure. Well done, Erik!

We didn't make any change requests... but that doesn't mean the printer didn't change something on their end. I'm curious to find out if #19 ends up being more fragile than the previous 18, for sure...

After seeing a few of these comments, I grabbed one of Crimson Throne 10 and Legacy 1 to do a tactile comparison. Flicking the front cover on the edge, both have the same tone, and tactilely they feel to be the same thickness, but I did notice that the Legacy cover does "curl" more easily, that is, there is a little less stiffness to the cover than the Crimson Throne cover. That may be what is giving the perception of being 'flimsier' ... interesting experiment.

but I did notice that the Legacy cover does "curl" more easily, that is, there is a little less stiffness to the cover than the Crimson Throne cover. That may be what is giving the perception of being 'flimsier' ... interesting experiment.

I noticed that too. It's more bendy, and it rebounds back to 'flat' perfectly.

However, I have a slight concern with some Editorial issues with "Howl" particularly after reading just a little bit of it this far.

The two inconsistencies I have discovered thus far are nothing major, but something I would think should be "ferreted" out prior to publishing.

On p10 it describes Father Zastoran as a red-headed halfling, while he is distinctly not that as described on p12.

On p13, Almah's reaction to the death of her astrologer is described as showing "remarkably little concern.... as a loss of resources than a personal tragedy." Whereas interviewing her after the accident (p14) states that she is "distraght at [his] death".

These are inconsistencies I would prefer be dealt with through the intentions of the author and the editors, than by myself.

Again. That being said, I am still very much enjoying the reading of the adventure.

I decided to go with the picture for the correct description of Father Zastoran. A more pressing concern of mine:

Spoiler:

How come he relies on the PCs to help save Kallien (p.10), when he has a whole trunk full of potions in his tent? Even if it takes a few rounds to go to the tent and get the potion, he'd still have enough time to stabilize both mercenaries, wouldn't he? Sure, he's described as reluctant to dole out the potions, but this is a life-or-death situation!...Maybe a solution is that it would take 4 full rounds to get to the tent and back, and by then she'd be dead?

Other than that, I really like the adventure so far, and if I get a chance to run it I hope I'd get a roleplay-happy group, because there are a ton of characters to interact with and portray.

Father Zastoran was not intended to be a halfling originally, but when the opening piece of art came in with a halfling in it, the editors decided to make a cosmetic change to fit the art. Unfortunately, they missed the text reference to Zastoran being a human elsewhere, thus the confusion. The truth is that it doesn't matter what race he is. If you want him to be a human, he's a human. If you want him to be a halfling, he's a halfling. I originally wrote him as a human, so my personal preference would be to go with that, but it really makes no difference to the play of the adventure itself.

Originally, I wrote full "scripts" for each of the characters in the caravan to help with the murder mystery up front. I also turned in an adventure about 5,000 words over the limit, so that was a natural thing to cut. When the script was condensed, I suspect the "distraught" line was part of the summary of the cut material, and the other reference was missed in editing. It is also possible that I flubbed this in the original turnover.

It's probably best if Almah is not "distraught," but rather that she treats the fortune teller as an employee who met an unfortunate end. Her not really caring all that much about him is/was supposed to be a clue that the romantic relationship between them that had the whole caravan abuzz was not so romantic after all.

Sure, he's described as reluctant to dole out the potions, but this is a life-or-death situation!...Maybe a solution is that it would take 4 full rounds to get to the tent and back, and by then she'd be dead?

That's what I was thinking when I wrote the scene. Also, I think I'd play Zastoran as not wholly sure of himself in a crisis. The PCs are supposed to be the heroes, after all, so having him a bit confused and unsure of what to do next is a fine solution.

not really put together all that clearly, things at the beginning seemed both boring and rushed, followed by railroading at the middle. Feeling of play was very cantanerkous and there wasn't a clarity of any "what or why" questions.

On the pdf, NPC/monster stats have an anooying habit of being intersected by a map.

There should have been an inclusion in this book as to what the difference between a gnoll and a flind is, becuase not everyone owns a 3e version of whatever monster book flinds are in.

Why is there a flind bar? Its mechanically exactly the same asa nunchuck. We had a lengthy conversion trying to decide whether the monk in the party could pick and use the flind bar.

Originally, I wrote full "scripts" for each of the characters in the caravan to help with the murder mystery up front. I also turned in an adventure about 5,000 words over the limit, so that was a natural thing to cut. When the script was condensed, I suspect the "distraught" line was part of the summary of the cut material, and the other reference was missed in editing. It is also possible that I flubbed this in the original turnover.

Hi Erik,

if these 5.000 words do need some caring DMs to nurturethem, I think we all would love to see the "scripts" posted here or as a "web enhancement".

Originally, I wrote full "scripts" for each of the characters in the caravan to help with the murder mystery up front. I also turned in an adventure about 5,000 words over the limit, so that was a natural thing to cut. When the script was condensed, I suspect the "distraught" line was part of the summary of the cut material, and the other reference was missed in editing. It is also possible that I flubbed this in the original turnover.

Hi Erik,

if these 5.000 words do need some caring DMs to nurturethem, I think we all would love to see the "scripts" posted here or as a "web enhancement".